Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 15, 2026
Application No. 18/872,697

TRANSPARENT DISPLAY

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 06, 2024
Priority
Jun 08, 2022 — DE 10 2022 114 423.2 +1 more
Examiner
CRUZ, MAGDA
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Carl Zeiss AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
755 granted / 866 resolved
+27.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
875
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
41.0%
+1.0% vs TC avg
§102
38.4%
-1.6% vs TC avg
§112
13.2%
-26.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 866 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/06/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite in that it fails to point out what is included or excluded by the claim language. Claim 1 includes the limitation “a holographic diffuser which extends substantially in a two-dimensional diffuser plane”; said limitation render the claim to be indefinite. This claim is an omnibus type claim. Claims 2-28 fall with parent claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-28 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding claim 1, Saito et al. (US Pub. No. 2017/0115485 A1) discloses a transparent display (i.e. transmissive screen; Figure 2, element 30), comprising a projector (element 10 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3), wherein the projector (element 10 illustrated in Figures 2 and 3) comprises an image generating unit (i.e. image generated by the reflective display [element 14]; page 4, paragraph 0051, lines 1-2), DMD (Figure 3, element 14; page 2, paragraph 0034, lines 1-3). However, Saito et al. and the prior art of record neither shows nor suggests a transparent display comprising a reflection unit configured to reflect images generated by the image generating unit in the direction of the holographic diffuser, wherein the image generating unit is arranged on a side of the diffuser plane that lies opposite the reflection unit. Regarding claims 2-28, the claims are allowable based on their dependence from claim 1. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Li (US Patent No. 11,579,450 B1) discloses a display using a projector to project an image onto a holographic diffuser. The holographic diffuser scatters light of the projected image to at least one holographic element having optical power, which forms an image in angular domain for a direct observation by a user. The holographic diffuser and the holographic optical element, such as a freeform lens or a reflector, may be disposed on a transparent substrate in which the image light propagates. The architecture that immerses a display (HOE diffuser) and the eyepiece lens into the substrate may reduce the form factor of the system compared to the VR headset architecture, while being suitable for operation in AR configuration. Daping et al. (US Pub. No. 2022/0390743 A1) teaches an image generation system for providing a ghost image free head-up display, the system comprising a display screen having a front surface and a back surface, a picture generation unit for projecting an image towards the display screen for reflection towards a predetermined eye box, and a field lens, wherein the picture generation unit is configured to project light through the field lens such that light is incident on the front surface of the display screen forming a first virtual image, wherein a portion of the light is transmitted through the display screen and is incident on the back surface of the display screen forming a second virtual image, wherein the first and second virtual images have an offset, wherein the field lens is configured such that the offset is below a threshold magnitude and the first and second virtual images are substantially overlaid as viewed from the eye box. Sulai et al. (US Pub. No. 2021/0080725 A1) shows a display device including an optical diffuser configured to, in response to receiving image light, output diffused image light having a same polarization as the image light. The optical diffuser is also configured to transmit ambient light. The display device also includes an optical assembly that includes a substrate, a reflector coupled to the substrate, and a beam splitter coupled to the substrate. The optical assembly is configured to transmit the diffused image light at a first optical power by reflecting the diffused image light at the reflector and at the beam splitter and to transmit the transmitted ambient light at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power without reflection at the reflector or the beam splitter. A method for transmitting light through the display device is also disclosed. Takeuchi et al. (US Patent No. 5,993,006 A) discloses an apparatus synthesizing the image of a viewer and a second image into a synthesized image and displays the synthesized image. The apparatus is capable of aligning the line of sight of the viewer with the line of sight of the displayed image of the viewer and correctly reproducing colors on the synthesized image. The apparatus has a transparent hologram screen on which a diffuser is recorded, a camera for imaging a viewer through the hologram screen, a synthesizer for synthesizing the image of the viewer and a second image into a synthesized image, and a projector for projecting signal light containing the synthesized image onto the hologram screen. In place of the synthesizer, a display unit may be arranged behind the viewer. The hologram screen may be combined with a mirror or a half-mirror. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAGDA CRUZ whose telephone number is (571)272-2114. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Toan Ton can be reached at 571-272-2303. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /MAGDA CRUZ/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 2882 07/30/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 06, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+9.6%)
2y 3m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 866 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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